tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71164622557713133392017-04-28T10:22:34.800-04:00Dragonfly WanderingsThe creative wanderings of life...Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-61687121772817381042017-04-28T10:22:00.000-04:002017-04-28T10:22:34.824-04:00Time... Time is one of those interesting things... it marches forward... aging... refining... maturing... sometimes perfecting... I read a post from 5 years ago... and I think how wise and confident it sounded. &nbsp;It didn't feel wise when I wrote it... I look at the investment into our kids. &nbsp;They've grown so much and love so much...we're in a very different place as a family... but that is really as it should be... we've added new friends to the old... have new pastures and woods to walk... have a depth in our relationships... we've taken new steps of faith... just rambling really... time has mostly been good... sometimes we just need to pause... and reflect.<br /><br /><br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-72970884820432130912014-01-27T20:40:00.000-05:002014-01-27T20:40:35.373-05:00Blueberry Cheesecake SmoothieToday was one of those days that I just wanted something different for lunch. &nbsp;I liked what came out, so here's the recipe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JiU3tRadvmg/UucGRlEcRQI/AAAAAAAAAcE/k8HDyreptXY/s1600/Blueberry+Smoothie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JiU3tRadvmg/UucGRlEcRQI/AAAAAAAAAcE/k8HDyreptXY/s1600/Blueberry+Smoothie.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div><br />2/3 cup 2 % cottage cheese<br />1/3 cup 1 % milk<br />1/2 cup frozen blueberries (Thanks Dad for picking with us! &nbsp;We're still enjoying the tastes of August!)<br />1 tablespoon maple syrup (The darker the better)<br /><br />Drop it all in the blender until smooth. &nbsp;Put in your favorite mug and enjoy.<br /><br />Here's the approximate nutrition facts. I typed the ingredients into the <a href="http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calculator.asp">nutrition calculator</a>&nbsp;over at SparkPeople. It pasted a bit funky... but the info's still there.<br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; width: 255px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular; font-size: small;">Nutrition Facts</span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular; font-size: small;"></span></b><div align="left"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #5a5ab5; font-size: x-small;">Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie</span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular; font-size: small;"></span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;Serving<br /></span></td></tr><tr height="5"><td bgcolor="black" colspan="3" height="5" nowrap="nowrap"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="30"><td colspan="3" height="30" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>Amount Per Serving</b></span></div></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#faffdc" height="3"><td bgcolor="black" colspan="3" height="3" nowrap="nowrap"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td colspan="2" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;Calories</b></span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">253.4</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td colspan="2" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;Total Fat</b></span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">5.0</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;g</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" width="16">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td colspan="1" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Saturated Fat</span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2.0</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;g</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" width="16">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td colspan="1" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Polyunsaturated Fat</span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">0.4</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;g</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" width="16">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td colspan="1" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Monounsaturated Fat</span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1.0</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;g</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td colspan="2" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;Cholesterol</b></span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">19.1</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;mg</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td colspan="2" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;Sodium</b></span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">530.4</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;mg</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td colspan="2" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;Potassium</b></span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">328.8</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;mg</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td colspan="2" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;Total Carbohydrate</b></span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">32.3</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;g</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" width="16">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td colspan="1" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Dietary Fiber</span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2.1</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;g</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" width="16">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td colspan="1" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Sugars</span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">28.1</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;g</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td colspan="2" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;Protein</b></span></td><td height="35" width="56"><span style="font-size: x-small;">20.7</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;g</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#D7D7F9" colspan="3"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; width: 273px;"><tbody><tr height="3"><td bgcolor="black" colspan="2" height="3" nowrap="nowrap"></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="#EBEBFF" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Vitamin A</span></td><td bgcolor="#EBEBFF" height="33" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6.3</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Vitamin B-12</span></td><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">23.6</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Vitamin B-6</span></td><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">9.5</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Vitamin C</span></td><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3.2</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="#EBEBFF" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Vitamin D</span></td><td bgcolor="#EBEBFF" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">10.5</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Vitamin E</span></td><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">4.4</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Calcium</span></td><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">21.8</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Copper</span></td><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">4.5</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="#EBEBFF" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Folate</span></td><td bgcolor="#EBEBFF" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">7.3</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="white" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Iron</span></td><td bgcolor="white" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3.6</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Magnesium</span></td><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6.1</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="white" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Manganese</span></td><td bgcolor="white" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">39.1</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="#EBEBFF" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Niacin</span></td><td bgcolor="#EBEBFF" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3.5</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Pantothenic Acid&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></td><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">7.5</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Phosphorus&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></td><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">31.1</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="white" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Riboflavin</span></td><td bgcolor="white" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">26.8</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Selenium</span></td><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">25.9</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Thiamin</span></td><td height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">5.2</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr height="1"><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2" height="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr height="35"><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap" width="196"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;Zinc</span></td><td bgcolor="#ebebff" height="35" nowrap="nowrap"><span style="font-size: x-small;">12.4</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;%</span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; width: 255px;"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#d7d7f9" colspan="2"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; width: 257px;"><tbody><tr height="3"><td align="center" bgcolor="black" height="3" width="257"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://assets3.sparkrecipes.com/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="257"></td></tr><tr><td width="257"><br /><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-61021812049823008462013-04-24T10:41:00.001-04:002013-04-24T10:41:57.348-04:00A new quest...&nbsp; &nbsp; <br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Recently I was putting together a short study on the life of David in the Old Testament. &nbsp;The statement "short study on the life of David" is in itself a bit of an un-doable task. &nbsp;David was one of the most influential people in the Old Testament. &nbsp;Through his life we see into the life of a King - not just any king, but one in the line of Jesus. &nbsp;David was imperfectly human, yet he connects us to the Divine. &nbsp;We are left with not just the historical accounts of his life, but many of his very own writings passed on in the Psalms. &nbsp;These writings portray what was in his heart as he experienced great joys, tragic lows, brutal betrayals, and incredible intimacy. <br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; I'm at a point of desiring to read the Psalms straight through. &nbsp;It's been awhile since I've done this, high-school maybe, but I'm always encouraged with the snippets I hear in a popular song or happen across. &nbsp;I am not an expert, but plan to read with an open heart and let God whisper personal messages to me as I read. &nbsp;Join me? &nbsp;And please share what stands out to you...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LMVNQjIPyG4/UXfuKLLIUDI/AAAAAAAAAW0/BRhPXjqIgk8/s1600/DSC_0178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LMVNQjIPyG4/UXfuKLLIUDI/AAAAAAAAAW0/BRhPXjqIgk8/s320/DSC_0178.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp;Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-90075106089487314662013-01-18T20:27:00.000-05:002013-01-18T20:27:48.817-05:00All In Good Time...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;So often as parents we rush things. &nbsp;We introduce things before our children are ready or interested. &nbsp;Sometimes it works out great, sometimes not so much.&nbsp; It's not that we want our children to grow up sooner, but more that we want them to enjoy something that we think is really fun or cool. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;When Elliana turned three we gave her a dollhouse. &nbsp;Said dollhouse sits in the corner of her room virtually untouched.&nbsp;It's become part of the decor, often not even being seen. &nbsp;We thought it was super cool... isn't it every little girl's dream to have a pretty dollhouse? &nbsp;The realization is that the dollhouse was our idea... not hers... &nbsp;She wasn't ready. &nbsp;I'm thinking it's time to tuck it away for a rainy day...<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;This week we had the totally opposite experience. Elliana discovered one of the dolls that my great grandmother had made me when I was a little girl. &nbsp;These fabric dolls were my friends and we had a lot of adventures. Elli immediately asked to play with it and has been lugging it up and downstairs with her. &nbsp;This doll has become an instant playmate regularly hosting tea. &nbsp;She named her Violet (all of her dolls are named Violet unless they came with a name). &nbsp;My mom made Elli a dress that is a perfect fit for Violet who is now a wearer of purple. &nbsp;Nate joined in on the action and they've both enjoyed Violet's company. &nbsp;Somehow it came up that Violet has a younger sibling. &nbsp;Nate's eyes lit up and he asked if we could get it out. &nbsp;So out came Joey. &nbsp;We made a quick visit to my stash of special baby clothes from Nate and Elli's early years; the kids were delighted at their new playmates and super-cool wardrobes. &nbsp;On a side-note they can't believe they ever wore clothes that small!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GNG9pokq8nM/UPnxYm0qgLI/AAAAAAAAAWU/f1qfIBL77d8/s1600/Gram+Butterfield+Dolls+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GNG9pokq8nM/UPnxYm0qgLI/AAAAAAAAAWU/f1qfIBL77d8/s320/Gram+Butterfield+Dolls+%25281%2529.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two are so fun!</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp; &nbsp; They wanted to know how long I'd had the dolls (somewhere around 33 years) , what their names were (Suzy and Sally I think, because that is what I named most of my dolls when I was their age), and why they could have them now? &nbsp;I explained that they can have them now because they're old enough to enjoy them, play creatively, and to take care of them. &nbsp;So Nate and Elliana are now each &nbsp;the proud owner of a very special doll handcrafted by their great, great grandmother. &nbsp;Pretty neat to see them so excited about their upcoming adventures with their new/old treasured friends. <br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;As they grow older I'll share with them more special memories of my Great Grammy and Grampa Butterfield. &nbsp;How Great Grampa always had a special twinkle in those bright blue eyes and how he taught me to play games like checkers and slapjack. &nbsp;I was routinely teased about cheating. &nbsp;He was a retired farmer and took care of all the&nbsp;cemeteries&nbsp;in Brownsville. &nbsp;How Great Grammy was a hoot! &nbsp;She kept her binoculars next to the window to check out the neighbors' comings and goings... or maybe she was just watching the birds? &nbsp;She braided rugs and made dolls.&nbsp;&nbsp;She always had a joke, "Want to hear a dirty joke? &nbsp;3 white horses fell into the mud! &nbsp;Want to hear a really dirty joke? &nbsp;Seven white horses fell into the mud." &nbsp;She'd always bring me bags of treasure... empty creamer containers, scoops from ice tea, sugar packets, small spoons, coffee stirrers, and paper placemats from local restaurants. While these things may not seem like treasures today, I knew she cared about me and thought enough to bring me something fun. &nbsp;I somehow easily found a use for all these things. &nbsp;They had lived through the Great Depression and everything had value - a new purpose could be found for each item.&nbsp;&nbsp;I will tell them about the&nbsp;special cupboard that always contained some sort of sweet, or at least some really hard bubble gum. &nbsp;I'll share about hot cocoa with marshmallows and how there was always ice cream at every visit, even if it had seen better days.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nate and Elli have&nbsp;already experienced the yard as my grandparents, their great grandparents still live in the same house, but I'll tell them about&nbsp;jarts and the lawn swing. &nbsp;They were special people who I spent many happy hours visiting.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6563Npkruw/UPnxaaJiCVI/AAAAAAAAAWc/_wuGsq0xqG0/s1600/Gram+Butterfield+with+Grampa+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6563Npkruw/UPnxaaJiCVI/AAAAAAAAAWc/_wuGsq0xqG0/s320/Gram+Butterfield+with+Grampa+%25281%2529.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Great Grandmother with my Grandfather.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-89904501912539999792012-11-20T08:29:00.000-05:002012-11-20T08:29:12.897-05:00"Just a Story" = Valuable Moments&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This morning when I dropped Nate off for school he asked me to stay and read a book.&nbsp;&nbsp;He selected a silly book about pigeons and a hot dog and we&nbsp;sat down&nbsp;to read. Shortly&nbsp;we were surrounded by a cluster of first graders eagerly listening.&nbsp; After I finished that book, a new one,&nbsp;<u>Chicka, Chicka, 1,2,3</u>, was&nbsp;waiting (which we'll have&nbsp;read next time...).&nbsp; As I was leaving, I noticed that one classmate's shoe was&nbsp;untied, and offered to tie it. Nate then walked me to the door, said goodbye with a kiss, and went back to his friends.&nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As I began my&nbsp;trek back up the hill I was thinking about the previous 10 minutes.&nbsp; It hadn't been much time.&nbsp; I said goodmorning to a few kids in the halls, checked in with the teacher, read a short story, tied a shoe, gave a goodbye&nbsp;kiss, and&nbsp;said hello to a few parents and children as I left the school.&nbsp; Not much in reality.&nbsp; But my brain fast-forwarded ahead ten years.&nbsp; Is it not in these short moments now that we build the relationships that keep us engaged in the lives of our children and their friends as they get older?&nbsp; <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f93hPNWQXXc/UKuEV7MuipI/AAAAAAAAAVs/f-XcROGaEms/s1600/DSC_4176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f93hPNWQXXc/UKuEV7MuipI/AAAAAAAAAVs/f-XcROGaEms/s320/DSC_4176.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate's morning message to me a few days ago...</td></tr></tbody></table>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-62416651093075544192012-10-30T13:54:00.003-04:002012-10-30T13:54:52.611-04:00Chimichanga remakeI've recently been having a lot of fun over on pinterest and found a recipe for bean chimichangas on a friend's wall.&nbsp; However, upon actually reading the recipe, I found a few things not so healthy so I revamped with good success. Does it compare to the original?&nbsp; I don't know - I rarely use velveta or refried beans.&nbsp; Elli enjoyed them as much as she enjoyed the name... I think this recipe could have a bunch of variations depending on what's on hand.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PO256WuwL14/UJAT-q_FBLI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/pVX4K4uOsf0/s1600/DSCN4646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PO256WuwL14/UJAT-q_FBLI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/pVX4K4uOsf0/s320/DSCN4646.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Jessica's Bean Chimichangas<br />Serves 4<br /><br />1 can of black beans<br />1/4 - 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese<br />4 burrito sized tortilla<br />4 tablespoons salsa<br />1 egg white<br />1-2 tablespoons oil<br />Sour cream or additional salsa, if desired<br /><br />Preheat oven to 300.&nbsp; Mash beans in a food processor or by hand.&nbsp; Heat tortillas lightly to help soften.&nbsp; Take 1/4 of the beans and place in a pile in the middle of your first tortilla, top with 1-2 tablespoons cheese and 1 tablespoon of salsa.&nbsp; Brush the area around the beans with egg white.&nbsp; Fold the top and bottom over the beans and then fold in the sides.&nbsp; Place seam side down on a plate.&nbsp; Repeat with the other 3.<br /><br />Heat the oil in a frying pan and place chimichangas seam sides down.&nbsp; 2-4 minutes each side on medium heat should give them a nice golden brown.&nbsp; Then remove them and place in a baking pan in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes.&nbsp; Serve warm by themselves or with salsa, sour cream, or some guac.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7OVNggrJlxE/UJAT0YoKaLI/AAAAAAAAAVA/4P3sk0vKqCk/s1600/DSCN4653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7OVNggrJlxE/UJAT0YoKaLI/AAAAAAAAAVA/4P3sk0vKqCk/s320/DSCN4653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-16008572815788567792012-10-01T22:20:00.000-04:002012-10-01T22:20:19.301-04:00Chosen by Choice"For many are invited, but few are chosen."&nbsp; Matthew 22:14 (NIV)<br /><br />I have often struggled with verses like this.&nbsp; Why are some chosen?&nbsp; What about those who are not?&nbsp; Is it too bad for them?&nbsp; Ooops sorry... you're not a "cool kid" in God's kingdom... stinks to be you... I've wrestled with this... not in a&nbsp;cavilier way, but in a deeply sorrowful way of feeling a loss for those not "chosen."<br /><br />Tonight, as I was reading the parable of the Wedding Banquet in Matthew, I once again stumbled upon this concept of Biblical "choseness" for lack of a better description.&nbsp; Tonight I did something different and asked God to explain this to me.&nbsp; Here's what I got.<br /><br />You are chosen.&nbsp; What makes the difference you ask?&nbsp; Why are some chosen?&nbsp; Isn't this unfair?&nbsp; NO!&nbsp; Those that are chosen are those that are willing to listen to and for God's voice.&nbsp; The chosen are ones who <strong>make the choice</strong> to follow God's desires rather than their own.&nbsp; All can be chosen if they set aside their own pursuits and seek God's heart.&nbsp; It's a heart condition.<br /><br />Just as one decides their own physical condition, they can just as easily choose the spiritual condition of their lives through the pursuit of a relationship with God.&nbsp; <br /><br />We choose if we want God that close in our lives or to keep him as some distant being.&nbsp; If we choose God there will be sacrifices and uncomfortable moments as well as great rewards.&nbsp; There is&nbsp;a deep unexplainable&nbsp;joy in knowing God personally.&nbsp; <br /><br />So... what does this mean?&nbsp; How does one know God?&nbsp; It's quite simple really.<br /><br />You pray and ask&nbsp;God to reveal himself in your life.&nbsp; No fancy formula.&nbsp; No "religious" act.&nbsp; You tell him your fears and hangups.&nbsp; You share your frustrations and insecurities and you ask for his help.&nbsp; God is alive and active and big enough to deal with <u><strong>all</strong></u> your stuff.&nbsp; And then... the great part is he takes some of the stuff and gives you the strength to work through the rest of it.&nbsp; As you seek him, you find more of him, and it's beautiful...<br /><br />In the end, you alone can choose if you are chosen.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-74177271211782162742012-06-19T22:50:00.001-04:002012-06-19T22:50:51.238-04:00Pi and Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chUI1ZEsNxQ/T-E3a509eWI/AAAAAAAAAUA/kydwPGpOrYI/s1600/2012+06+19_2813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chUI1ZEsNxQ/T-E3a509eWI/AAAAAAAAAUA/kydwPGpOrYI/s320/2012+06+19_2813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Today was one of those beautifully idyllic summer days.&nbsp; It's mid-June and the strawberries were rumored to be ready.&nbsp; Being huge fans of fresh-picked strawberries, I did some research and found several places that were picking. I found and cleaned up our old strawberry flat, Nate and Elli chose picking containers, packed some lemonade and we were ready to scoot.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Our goal was ten pounds.&nbsp; This represented a huge undertaking&nbsp;with the kids as in past years complaints typically began after the first quart.&nbsp; I prepped&nbsp;them on the way sharing our goal of 10 pounds and giving them the picture that it would probably fill Mama's box.&nbsp;"I want to pick 13 pounds Mama, I'm going to pick 10 baskets!" Nate chimed enthusiastically. &nbsp;Amazingly Nate and Elli set about to filling their containers, and their bellies, chit chatting about what they would make, what recipes they'd create, and the creation of a strawberry carnival.&nbsp; With their first containers being filled and my box about half full I was feeling optimistic.&nbsp; That's when I heard it, "Mama, I need to go to the bathroom."&nbsp; "Mama, I'm tired when will we be done?"&nbsp; We took care of the first issue and I encouraged them to keep picking.&nbsp; Their picking pretty much stalled out.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few moments later&nbsp;I heard, "Mama, what's 12 plus 12?"&nbsp; I debated throwing the question back at Nate, but a sudden thought brought me in a different direction.<br /><br />&nbsp;"24," I answered then asked, "What's 8 + 5?" <br /><br />Nate thought it out, "13." Then threw out, "What's 100 trillion plus 100 trillion?"&nbsp; <br /><br />I countered, "200 trillion, what's 15 plus 8?"&nbsp; A bit of a pause... "5 plus what equals 8?" I ask.<br /><br />&nbsp;"5 plus 3 is 8." He responds confidently.<br /><br />"Ok, what's 15 plus 5 plus 3?&nbsp; Remember you can break numbers apart to make it easier."<br /><br />Some thinking, "22 no 23."&nbsp; All while this exchange is going on, I continue picking.&nbsp; "Mama what's pi plus 3?"<br /><br />I'm surprised, but answer "6.14.&nbsp; How do you know pi?"<br /><br />Nate's eyes twinkle, "Papa taught me."<br /><br />The next series of questioning relates to pi plus whatever he thinks of.&nbsp; Every now and then I ask him to fill his basket before we keep going with math problems. I'm happy&nbsp;my box is getting full, and while he's not consistently picking, he's not complaining.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another picker stops long enough to ask if we're homeschooling.&nbsp; "Nope, just distracting (but in reality, isn't everything our children do and think a form of schooling?),"&nbsp; I respond with a smile.&nbsp;Nate revisits his initial line of questioning related to dozens.&nbsp; "Mama, what's one dozen plus one dozen?&nbsp; I like dozens."<br /><br />"24, can you pick two dozen berries?&nbsp; How full does that make your basket?"<br /><br />Nate eagerly picks two dozen.&nbsp; "One, two, three, four..."&nbsp; He dumps them into the box which is now 3/4 of the way full.&nbsp; "I want to pick one dozen, then two dozen, then three dozen, then four, then five!"&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z2DVP0ewRwY/T-E3RQSo8yI/AAAAAAAAATw/qRlkcLjVh6M/s1600/2012+06+19_2809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z2DVP0ewRwY/T-E3RQSo8yI/AAAAAAAAATw/qRlkcLjVh6M/s320/2012+06+19_2809.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />"I bet if you do that then we'll have a full box!"&nbsp; Nate's interest in picking&nbsp;is renewed and in a few short minutes our box&nbsp;is full.&nbsp; At the counter the kids&nbsp;are fascinated with the scale and the lady&nbsp;is pretty chill allowing the kids to weigh whatever they&nbsp;think of.&nbsp; Then came our berries.&nbsp;Sure enough Nate's offhand desire to pick 13 pounds&nbsp;is a reality!&nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After picking strawberries we had a nice lunch, discovered a new park with swimming then came home and made strawberry pie for dessert.&nbsp; The day was amazing, as is my husband who just hulled all the berries.&nbsp; We all agree that there's nothing quite like the sweetness of&nbsp;strawberry pie made with fresh picked berries.&nbsp; I was given this recipe 14 years ago at my wedding shower and it's become a seasonal favorite every year.&nbsp; <br /><br />Lynn's Strawberry Pie<br />A gift from Lynn Nugent<br /><br />Ingredients:<br />1 quart fresh strawberries<br />3/4 cup sugar<br />1/2 cup water<br />3 tablespoons corn starch<br />1 tablespoon butter<br />1 tablespoon lemon juice<br />red food coloring (I've always omitted this)<br />1 baked pie shell of your choosing I've used traditional, Oreo, shortbread, and graham depending on what's available.&nbsp; All are good.<br /><br />Directions<br />1. Crush 1/2 cup of the berries and set the rest aside.<br />2.&nbsp; Combine the crushed berries with the sugar and water in a saucepan.&nbsp; <br />3.&nbsp; Stir until the sugar is dissolved and bring to a boil.<br />4. Make a paste with the cornstarch and a bit of water and then add to the boiling strawberry mixture in a thin stream stirring constantly.<br />5.&nbsp; Cook until clear and thick.<br />6.&nbsp; Remove from heat and stir in butter, lemon juice, and food coloring if using.&nbsp; Cool.<br />7.&nbsp; While the sauce is cooling, slice remaining strawberries and arrange them in the cooked pie crust.&nbsp; 8.&nbsp; Pour the cooled sauce over the strawberries in the pie shell and serve or refrigerate.&nbsp; <br />9.&nbsp; Enjoy as is or with some whipped cream. <br /><br />Note:&nbsp; This pie is best served the day that it is made as the berries start to give up their juices making the crust soggy.&nbsp; <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KoJ2Ol7f00s/T-E3UEI7Y0I/AAAAAAAAAT4/d5V4E15gb0U/s1600/2012+06+19_2833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KoJ2Ol7f00s/T-E3UEI7Y0I/AAAAAAAAAT4/d5V4E15gb0U/s320/2012+06+19_2833.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok - It tastes much better than this pic. looks!</td></tr></tbody></table>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-11833069820148778792012-05-15T21:05:00.000-04:002012-05-15T21:05:25.657-04:00Whatcha Reading?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVv443mZlQA/T7L7oxQqSwI/AAAAAAAAATk/uumNZwplevQ/s1600/Play+Pictures+1+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVv443mZlQA/T7L7oxQqSwI/AAAAAAAAATk/uumNZwplevQ/s320/Play+Pictures+1+174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am really thankful to have such a great public library in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Not only do they have books, but they also have music, DVDs, audio books, and the “big bags.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Big bags are large bags that often contain a book with either a cd or a related toy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Big bags can also contain puzzles or games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>These are wonderful and often catch Elli’s eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have a rule that we can only check out one big bag at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This keeps them special while also allowing me to keep track of the many parts inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>On our last library trip Elli checked out Goldilocks and the Three Bears in a big bag with hand puppets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The bag has lain next to our library bag for over a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I think the three bears might have been wondering why they even came home with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Today I had to step out for a few moments and came home to find that Elli, much to the bears delight, had taken them out of their bag and was sitting playing with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She asked me to read the story so she could act it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This was a new story to her and she quickly found herself captivated by the story and set the puppets down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Her attempt at using her hands and feet to work the puppets wasn’t working anyways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She crawled into my lap and thoroughly enjoyed the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>As soon as the story was over she scooped the puppets back up and divvied them up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was to be the boy puppets and she would be Goldilocks and Mama Bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We played for a solid 15 minutes picking up the story at different places and adding additional narrative not in the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Mama bear would fix the chair for Baby Bear and Papa should help as he had a hammer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was so sweet seeing her imagination at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Today wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t have books or in this case the big bag hanging around our home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Although I am always amazed when I find Nate and Elli looking at books on their own at random times it makes sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They see us reading which tells them that reading is important to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They love being read too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They have a hunger for knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>These things combined create readers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Although it sounds clichéd, reading opens doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>How do you encourage your children to read?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-40677086920684018092012-04-30T22:15:00.000-04:002012-04-30T22:15:06.484-04:00April 30 - Reflections & Water Play/Scare...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_LQf7Gi-7ks/T59EfBPVqcI/AAAAAAAAATI/j4E7wwkoCfY/s1600/Blog+Brook+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_LQf7Gi-7ks/T59EfBPVqcI/AAAAAAAAATI/j4E7wwkoCfY/s320/Blog+Brook+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Today is the last day of my month of reflections on play; although I am sure that it will be not the last time that I write about play here. Looking back over the month, I am amazed at how much I’ve learned from actually stopping and reflecting on our days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>So often we just get busy with the craziness and are ready to collapse at day’s end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have an amazing family and I am so blessed to have them as a priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I can’t help but feel that all the time spent playing now will equate to stronger relationships and more openness during their teen years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While I know there will be rocky times, somehow the time spent now will be a contributing factor in how we handle the difficult times then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My other observation is that I didn’t run out of new stuff to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Going into April I wasn’t sure if I would be able to write thirty consecutive posts without a lot of repetition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Some of my posts were more exciting to write than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Some posts were deeply personal…others not so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I think this is representative of the fact that each day is a new day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Today’s experiences build on yesterday’s and as we grow as a family there&nbsp;are new discoveries/thoughts each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>To grow together there is sometimes vulnerability, but when everyone’s goal is to honor each other we hold each other carefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Play includes a need for risk, but when this risk is surrounded by the support of a loving family and friends we can go so much further than we could on our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I think this is true of many areas of our lives including love and faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Now to take a quick peek into today’s play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Water is such a source of play for Nate and Elli, as it is for most kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They gravitate towards it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Today we went down to our future garden spot and immediately the kids were in the stream, shoes off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was delighted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is what I pictured when I chose this particular spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While gardening is fun at times, I remember how tedious it can be if there are not diversions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The stream is a good source of water for the garden, but also of play for the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Aj-PBJhJNs/T59EtCmOdHI/AAAAAAAAATQ/rfVrP9Q-JNI/s1600/Blog+Brook+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Aj-PBJhJNs/T59EtCmOdHI/AAAAAAAAATQ/rfVrP9Q-JNI/s320/Blog+Brook+006.JPG" width="179" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I sometimes forget how innocent kids are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>At one point I heard Nate talking about getting a drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I called over that they could help themselves to the water bottle in the backpack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The next moment I notice that they’re both bending over in the stream licking the water!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Fortunately I caught them on their first sip, but I’m praying that they didn’t pick up anything from water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Someday I may look back on this as humorous, but today it’s a bit scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">As adults we sometimes forget what it was like to be a four or five year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We wouldn’t dream, in most cases, of bending over to drink water from a stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We’ve been taught that you don’t do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It could make us really sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We are the gatekeepers of our kids’ safety and while we can’t and shouldn’t protect them from every bump or bruise we do have to be vigilant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As parents we do our best to make things as safe as we can, but there comes a point when we just have to trust God to keep them safe and get us through any difficulties.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Also water related Nate discovered during his bath time that he can capture air and that air is lighter than water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>How fun!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VnFPB4lh8eQ/T59E4cFhoKI/AAAAAAAAATY/SDFGhkGOca8/s1600/Blog+Brook+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VnFPB4lh8eQ/T59E4cFhoKI/AAAAAAAAATY/SDFGhkGOca8/s640/Blog+Brook+021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate borrowed my camera today - I love the detail of the larger leaves sheltering the smaller.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-74888957651318867232012-04-29T19:24:00.001-04:002012-04-29T19:25:05.119-04:00April 29 - Play's Dark Side<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>While our play is fun, an awesome learning experience, even great for developing great relationships within our family, it does have a bit of a price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I would be out of line if I didn’t share the dark side too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Our dark side brings frustration for Mama and Papa and many devious attempts from Nate and Elli to avoid it all together…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sometimes it even brings a certain amount of pain and tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The dark side has to be conquered to enjoy play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>This dark side is of course the mess, or rather the cleaning up of the mess that our play often creates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As we remain in an almost constant state of play, we live in a cluttered house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is a rare moment when every toy is on the shelf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As I look around now after an afternoon of cleaning I still see an upturned pillow pet, a piece of bread (wooden of course) on the floor, various books, a recycled boat/plane creation, binoculars, a handful of cars just to name a few things that got “missed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>However, the Legos are all away as I requested, and so is the tea set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I am told that this stage will pass, that one day I will have a tidy house, but for now the giggles of the football game outside overrule the desire for perfectly tidy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZcXOIdbuUo/T53LqR4GuWI/AAAAAAAAAS0/iwBWrEC7F94/s1600/Carter's+Birthday+150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZcXOIdbuUo/T53LqR4GuWI/AAAAAAAAAS0/iwBWrEC7F94/s320/Carter's+Birthday+150.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I was told by several people early on that a clean house at this stage of life means that I don’t spend enough time enjoying and playing with my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This was an incredibly freeing revelation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I do however have a responsibility to teach my children to be good stewards of their belongings and our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is a delicate balance and as they get older they are sharing more of the responsibility of the work behind play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This does not always go over well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>David Elkind identifies three primary drives* for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Love, play, work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He goes on to say that we cannot enjoy one if the others are not present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is true of our play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If we do not do the “work” related to play, our play is not as enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate always loves it when his room is clean, spending hours playing in it shortly after each thorough cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This cleaning is often painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He has to throw out some of his collections to create space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sometimes there are tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He has to give up some play time to tidy up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There may be more tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>However the end result is worth it and he finds reward in a more spacious enjoyable play space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Nate is starting to really get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sometimes you have to clean to be able to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Today was one of those cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There was something that he and Elli wanted to do, but I said the Legos had to be picked up first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was working on dinner in the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Every few minutes I’d hear, “Elli!” in an exasperated tone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>“Elli, we not going to be able to go for a walk if we don’t pick up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You want to go for a walk don’t you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Well me and Mama are going to go and you’ll have to stay here!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then I would hear Nate picking up some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>“Elli!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He was getting really grouchy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli was not cooperating or doing her fair share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Finally I called him into the kitchen for this conversation:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Nate, you’re feeling really frustrated that Elli won’t help, but yelling at her isn’t helping her want to help you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“No, I’m the only one who’s cleaning!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Well, that’s not quite true; Mama’s working on the dishes and making dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>How about if you try something different with Elli?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>What if you made cleaning into a game, not one with winners and losers, but a game?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nate skips out of the kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Elli, why don’t we play a game without winners and losers where we throw the Legos into the bucket!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Eureka!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Within five minutes they’re telling me they’re almost done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I come and inspect, sure enough they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They’re getting into this cleaning thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I give them a few more manageable tasks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I can vacuum!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’m happy!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>While I do not have this dark side of play conquered I’m working on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I realized today as I was listening to Nate try to get Elli to help that he probably sounds like I often do when I’m trying to get them to clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Yikes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Time for a new strategy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wXgqYIwqOWQ/T53MaCmzUkI/AAAAAAAAAS8/x7PKx4tObDo/s1600/Carter%2527s+Birthday+148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wXgqYIwqOWQ/T53MaCmzUkI/AAAAAAAAAS8/x7PKx4tObDo/s320/Carter%2527s+Birthday+148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I spy anyone?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">* I think that we identify other drives/needs beyond these three. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Elkind relates these other needs back into these three.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Elkind, D. (2007). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The power of play</i>. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-87079071032883520832012-04-28T21:47:00.001-04:002012-04-28T21:47:29.820-04:00April 28 - Does God Play?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RwJeVCpxk0o/T5ycQ4RKcoI/AAAAAAAAASQ/QpkJk7zwB40/s1600/Blog+15+Echo+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RwJeVCpxk0o/T5ycQ4RKcoI/AAAAAAAAASQ/QpkJk7zwB40/s320/Blog+15+Echo+014.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp; I’m wrestling with this topic as I write it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s not that I struggle with my belief or even with the concept, but rather with how to adequately do it justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’m wrestling with how to talk about God and play without making it trite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>So here goes…<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>So for a little background, I believe we have an amazingly awesome God who created the Heavens and the Earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Once they were created he sought to fill them with wonderful things including all sorts of plants, animals, natural wonders, and of course people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He made people to be able to fellowship with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; He loved them. </span>To truly love you have to have a choice, so God created people with the capacity to choose. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>As we know Adam and Eve chose the forbidden fruit and therefore chose to follow their desires instead of the&nbsp;life God had laid out for them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>This is when things got off kilter and a curse was put on the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If you read Genesis 1-3 it lays out the whole story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It describes the depth of the beauty that God created and describes the fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pxc6057gQJw/T5ycd67akOI/AAAAAAAAASg/Tq19K5GbtqQ/s1600/Secret+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pxc6057gQJw/T5ycd67akOI/AAAAAAAAASg/Tq19K5GbtqQ/s400/Secret+Beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>When I look around me today, especially at the natural world, I see great beauty and an amazing capacity to enjoy it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Yes, things are still messed up. While Jesus came to give people an opportunity to restore our relationship with God, the world itself will not be perfected until the creation of a new Heaven and a new Earth (Isaiah 66:22).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But as I was saying the natural world so beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I enjoy it immensely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The beauty in each item is exquisite when&nbsp;I stop to look closely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I love going on walks with the kids or playing in the yard and discovering something new and wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When I look closely at something as commonplace as a dandelion I see something gorgeous. Then when I consider the beautiful places to explore, open spaces to run, trees to climb, streams to follow, and lakes to swim, I am blown away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>All of this points to a God that likes play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Why else would he create us with our capacity to move, dance, swim, skip, and run?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Why would he create such places to explore if we were not meant to explore them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Why do we have a desire to explore them? Then I get to thinking, is play an act of worship?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While I’m not an expert, I kind of think it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If we’re out enjoying the creation in a way that honors the creation and choosing to recognize the Creator, then I feel like play, especially in the natural environment, can be worshipful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I also watch my children as they dance especially at church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They dance in response to their desire to interact with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s their offering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While they have no formal dance experience, there is a grace and elegance to their dancing that is often not present when they dance at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s hard to describe, but their bodies at play/dance are worshipping God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>So this is what I’m thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>God loves us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He created us with a need for play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Does this mean that he has a desire to play with us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When I feel like God is speaking to me I feel a deep inner joy similar to that which of a child who is totally engrossed in play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Is God waiting for us to acknowledge him in all areas of our life, including our play?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Can we play with God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rr5fzG_qbWI/T5ycidIsE7I/AAAAAAAAASo/9oLat_9f6ZE/s1600/tree+river+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="578" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rr5fzG_qbWI/T5ycidIsE7I/AAAAAAAAASo/9oLat_9f6ZE/s640/tree+river+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you just want to kayak down this river and stop to climb that tree?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-68751311249592692472012-04-27T19:35:00.001-04:002012-04-27T19:40:52.920-04:00April 27 - A Penny Show<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Recently a friend posted that her son loved listening to the Star Wars station on Pandora.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I love Star Wars music, but had never thought to create a Pandora station around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I immediately remedied this situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The depths of John William’s scores are so alive, transporting you out of your house somewhere else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>With my newly created Star Wars station as a backdrop to this afternoon’s play, Nate and Elli had an amazingly creative kid directed, TV free playtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While Nate has never seen Star Wars he is captivated by the idea of space travel and concept of battles between the good guys and bad guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Initially I had turned on the music as a backdrop to a painting project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Shortly after the music began, I was the only one painting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate and Elli returned to yesterday’s Lego play for quite a while, with a much better give and take than we saw yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I happily painted away; listening to them play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Spy music is very fun to paint too; my brush just wanted to leap around the paper creating lots of stops and starts that incorporated curves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>As a song would catch their attention they would stop playing and go to the computer to see what a song was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>At one point, Nate noticed that it was a Transformers song, another interest that must have grown out of playing at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He and Elli stopped playing with the Legos and turned into Transformers zooming around the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli was a pink Transformer that twirled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was not long until they were looking for the <a href="http://dragonflywanderings.blogspot.com/2011/02/puppet-play.html">puppet stage</a> and drawing their own paper Transformer puppets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>One of them came up with the idea that they should put on a show for us when Jeff came home from work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The stage was set up facing the couch so we could have comfy seats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was determined that we would be charged $ .01 each to view the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Jeff, being a gentleman, generously paid my admission when he was greeted at the door by two eager children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Nate prepared the puppets backstage while Elli came out to greet their audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>“Hello, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to our show!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’ll tell you a few jokes before the show starts.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We sat with anticipation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli’s delivery of the following jokes was priceless and had us in stitches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Knock, knock.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Who’s there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Banana!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Banana who?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Banana crossed the road!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Knock, knock.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Who’s there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Apple!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Apple who?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Apple crossed the road with the banana!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The show began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The first round was very quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate used the puppets he’d made and Elli used her princess wand as a shooting star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Both shows were battle scenes and good triumphed... I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then Nate grabbed the finger puppet box, a repurposed Oatmeal box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Out tumbled a bunch of puppets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The spider, dragon, king, queen, and princess were chosen for a rather complex impromptu show about a spider knight who captured a dragon and locked him in the Lego jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The dragon somehow escaped and kidnapped the queen locking her in the jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The king rescued his queen while the knight spider recaptured and did away with the dragon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Between each scene the carefree singing princess took center stage singing and “twirling.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The show was priceless and well worth the $.01 entry fee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zOtdNoR43wY/T5sryBtmvlI/AAAAAAAAAR8/_yEpGyx44jU/s1600/_DSC4642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zOtdNoR43wY/T5sryBtmvlI/AAAAAAAAAR8/_yEpGyx44jU/s320/_DSC4642.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The casts from their puppet shows.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Nate got home from school at 2:30 and I went to grab supper a little after 5:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>For two and a half hours they were totally engaged with a backdrop of John Williams and other related composers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Their play often mirrored the music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was delightful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>These times are so important for their development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-17856270749864770032012-04-26T21:10:00.000-04:002012-04-26T21:10:44.394-04:00April 26 - Legos and Learning<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o5N8lNT9Ths/T5nxkTRWQMI/AAAAAAAAARw/-AR_fPvg2gw/s1600/_DSC4637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o5N8lNT9Ths/T5nxkTRWQMI/AAAAAAAAARw/-AR_fPvg2gw/s400/_DSC4637.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Legos truly are one of the&nbsp;most amazing&nbsp;toys ever invented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>How many other toys are there that change with your child, and can be added to over time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Legos last!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We have some 25 year old Legos mixed in with the newer sets and you can’t really even tell them apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Legos capture the imaginations of boys and girls, young and old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They’re compact and when we’re not playing with them they can easily tucked away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Now that the kids are “older” I would probably choose Legos as our favorite toy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Today Nate came home with a new book from the school library featuring Legos in space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Upon walking in the door he immediately went to the Legos and started making “his own Lego kit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This included scalping pieces from other vehicles to make a space station, rockets, and Mars rovers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>His creations then played out the story in the book and went on some new adventures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is an exciting process to be a part of; a display of what true play is really all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Using his imagination he stepped beyond the original use of toy to imagine new scenarios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; He was focused and doing it because it's what he wanted to do.&nbsp; It was totally intrisically motivated.</span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Nate included Elli and me in his play after a bit of a chat about letting us play creatively too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When&nbsp;he first invited us to sit down, he kept taking things out of our hands and being bossy about what pieces we could use or not use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He wanted us to play, but he wanted us to share his vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The problem was that he hadn’t shared his vision, nor was he communicating his desire for us to play with him properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Our chat basically went like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>“Nate, you invited us to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If you don’t allow us to play in our way (using the pieces we want to use) then it’s not fun for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We want to play with you, but we want to be able to build using the extra pieces to connect with your story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If this can’t happen, then we might go play something else.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This seemed to get through and I got an “ok.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>From then on we were each able to add our contribution to the space play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli contributed a girl in a tank top who Nate helped equip with a breathing apparatus so she could live in space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It turned out to be a really fun time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>One of the major benefits of play is this development of social skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When we play we have to learn social norms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Today Nate learned that if he was rigid and didn’t allow input from others, we would find something else to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sometimes play is about learning to interact with people that you don’t like and helping them feel included (Paley, 1993).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Play also teaches us that it’s ok to stand up for what we want; Elli saw this demonstrated today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I could have gotten up and left without expressing my frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I could have also grabbed the Legos and insisted that I be allowed to use the pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>However by using my words I was able to model an appropriate solution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Hopefully this is a lesson that will stick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An interesting read about sharing and inclusion:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paley, V. (1993) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You can’t say you can’t play.</i> Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-37477799645073749282012-04-25T20:53:00.001-04:002012-04-25T20:53:42.293-04:00April 25 - Relative Silence<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Here I sit; taking in the relative silence…it’s beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The kids are in bed with their music playing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Much of today was loud. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Nate and Elli seem to have broken volume switches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sometimes they work if you hold your mouth just right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’m not complaining I really wouldn’t have it any other way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Just enjoying and reflecting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Ells and I went to the library today -&nbsp;a very busy day there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Thirteen moms, their children, and a small pig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Story hour was about… you guessed it… pigs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was a cute little piglet and the kids loved it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli described it as soft instead of spikey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They made pig puppets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli picked out a selection of new books and we came home with a full bag once again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We’re going to miss story hour next year once Elli starts preschool three days a week although we’ll still make regular trips to the library I’m sure!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBhIrGxpZHU/T5ia04xCd0I/AAAAAAAAARc/cdX9GRMZk8s/s1600/DSCN4146_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBhIrGxpZHU/T5ia04xCd0I/AAAAAAAAARc/cdX9GRMZk8s/s200/DSCN4146_edited-1.jpg" width="129" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The adventurers!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>This afternoon we set out on an adventure to find an old garden that we’ve been given permission to use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate drew a wonderfully detailed map and led our expedition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The kids were appalled at the amount of litter on the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s becoming our Green Up Day project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Although we searched for signs of the old garden we came up empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>However, I’m very excited because there is a small stream nearby and I know the kids are going to have so much fun splashing about in it this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate and Elli were also delighted at the discovery of burdocks, actually wanting to plant them in our garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Ahhh…. yeah…no! They did have a good time playing with the stickiness of a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />﻿﻿<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BYcLKT51_98/T5ia4VKg5sI/AAAAAAAAARk/_ajTf2vpGxA/s1600/DSCN4147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BYcLKT51_98/T5ia4VKg5sI/AAAAAAAAARk/_ajTf2vpGxA/s200/DSCN4147.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the litter!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Upon arriving back home we had to immediately set to making signs to tell the students not to pollute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate hopes to teach the students that it’s not ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He drew an angry bunny and a sad deer to show them how the animals feel when we don’t use a trash can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Our signs will probably get hung up tomorrow; Nate said we need to hang them really, really well so they don’t become litter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>So apparently we have lost that nice little boy “vroom” that accompanies matchbox play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We have traded it for a “begin deep in the throat, soul rattling&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; vvVVVVrrrRRRRRRRooOOOOOmmMMMM.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every time I hear it I jump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate says that real racecars hurt your ears and he’s trying to be real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In spite of his propensity to randomly rev his engine, we had a fun time playing cars on his purple track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The random revving combined with their desire to challenge everything that I said made for a long afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>However, books came to my rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>After dinner and cleanup we snuggled in on the couch so Nate could do his daily reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>After six stories, four read by Nate, we were all in a much better place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-56658288757703464602012-04-24T13:52:00.000-04:002012-05-01T13:30:30.243-04:00April 24 - Hopping a Jet to Mexico!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyCyytzSClE/T5blBzU1xEI/AAAAAAAAARI/ql6_8ruJ6K0/s1600/Mexico+%2526+Maine+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyCyytzSClE/T5blBzU1xEI/AAAAAAAAARI/ql6_8ruJ6K0/s320/Mexico+%2526+Maine+059.jpg" width="320px" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: small;">Mayan Ruins on Mexico's Yucatan Pennisula</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">So Nate was very excited when I dropped him off at school today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This afternoon he and his class are departing for Mexico! They will be flying for five hours landing in Mexico City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Their itinerary states that they will be visiting the”Sonoran Desert, Mexico’s rainforests, the ancient Mayan ruins in Chitchen Itza, the beaches of Acapulco and the Mexican farmland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We will see an active volcano erupt and will visit Tijuana to browse the open market for souvenirs and listen to a mariachi band!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They will be gone for three weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate warned me that he might miss his swim lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He even wanted me to go with him and was a little concerned when I said I couldn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">Teachers who incorporate play into learning are wonderful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I do not doubt that there will be some kindergarteners at JES that will some day visit Mexico as a result of their three week exploration of our Southern neighbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The imaginative side of play helps us connect with real life concepts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Our imaginations can take us places that we cannot go on our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It would be nearly impossible to take thirty kindergarteners to Mexico for three weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Imagine bedtime with that many five and six year olds!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>However, as the teachers tell stories and transform their classrooms they provide <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the students just enough information to let their imaginations run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Much better than worksheets any day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">﻿﻿﻿﻿</span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvWzTmMGKW8/T5blbP0ZigI/AAAAAAAAARQ/SPRDOYDy5cA/s1600/Mexico+%2526+Maine+137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvWzTmMGKW8/T5blbP0ZigI/AAAAAAAAARQ/SPRDOYDy5cA/s320/Mexico+%2526+Maine+137.jpg" width="320px" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: small;">Pottery Shop in Playa del Carmen</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">﻿﻿﻿﻿</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">When our teachers and mentors embrace the imaginary it gives our children permission to do the same too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Kathy Hirsh-Pakek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff (2003) reference the concept of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">convergent</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">divergent</i> problems. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Convergent</i> problems only have one solution while <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">divergent </i>problems can have a wide variety of solutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Imaginative play/learning gives kids a way of opening the door to future solutions to divergent problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When you are invited to use your imagination you can find solutions to all sorts of everyday situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In his book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Play</i>, Stuart Brown (2007) gives the striking example of the differences between old engineers and young engineers and their abilities to solve problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Employers were finding that older engineers were much more likely to problem solve on the fly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They could take a problem and see a range of solutions, whereas the younger engineers would often get stuck behind the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It eventually came out that the older engineers had spent much more time in play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Play gives us the ability to solve problems creatively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">Fantasy play can also provide us with a script for life (Hirsh-Pakek &amp; Golinkoff, 2003).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate’s class is gaining a script for travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>How do you navigate an airport?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>What are the words used?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>How do you act when you travel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>What’s ok, what’s not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is a new script for many of these kindergarteners who may have never traveled outside of Vermont before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Pretend play gives us practice scripts for all sorts of situations including the everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Think about what our kids often play… When Elli’s hosting a tea party she’s practicing how to be a good host.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When Nate’s a chef presenting us with our “food” he’s learning the art of presentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When they’re shopping for items from all over the house they’re learning valuable skills about selection and searching for treasures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Speaking of shopping, playing store introduces early math as they make change and figure out if Nate is charging a fair price for that car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"></span><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">“When imagination is unleashed, learning is truly meaningful.”</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"></span><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"></span><br /><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: right; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>(p. 257, Hirsh-Pakek &amp; Golinkoff, 2003)</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdbtEz2FclM/T5bk-_55v5I/AAAAAAAAARA/3uu2MbBB95U/s1600/Clouds+are+fine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><img border="0" height="425px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdbtEz2FclM/T5bk-_55v5I/AAAAAAAAARA/3uu2MbBB95U/s640/Clouds+are+fine.jpg" width="640px" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: small;">The beach outside our room - 2005 trip</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">Books referenced:</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">Hirsh-Pasek, K., Golinkoff, R.M., &amp; Eyer, D. (2003) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Einstein never used flash cards. </i>Emmaus, PA: Rodale Inc.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Brown, S. and Vaughn, C. (2007).<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">invigorates the soul</span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.&nbsp; New York, NY: Penguin Group.</span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-55803182744124088502012-04-23T17:22:00.000-04:002012-10-06T14:25:18.930-04:00Laundry Soap&nbsp; &nbsp; <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;I am constantly losing this in the months between batches of laundry soap, so I'm posting it on here so I know where to look! &nbsp;My sister in law Jessica shared it and it is good stuff. &nbsp;Clothes get clean and it's saved us lots of money. &nbsp;</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Laundry Soap</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Heat 6 cups of water and 1/3 bar of grated Fells Naptha Soap (Bar of soap in laundry aisle. Under $1.50) Stir in 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup of Borax. Mix and heat until dissolved. Boil 15 minutes. Remove from heat. In a 3 or 5 gallon pail, add 1 quart of hot water, then add the soap mixture. Mix, add enough cold water to make 2 gallons. Mix until well blended. Let sit 24 hours. Use 1/2 cup for each load. Shake stir before each use. (It may be slightly gloppy). If water is hard add 1/2 cup Borax with the detergent to the wash for whites.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">It works really well and lasts a long time. Once you've bought the initial ingredients you can make a ton.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">I use about a half cup with each load.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbITJ_Dd4TM/UHB3V0cAjMI/AAAAAAAAAUg/4v1EW6UyiRc/s1600/DSC_0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbITJ_Dd4TM/UHB3V0cAjMI/AAAAAAAAAUg/4v1EW6UyiRc/s320/DSC_0191.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundry soap for all of life's sticky messes!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-7592168720350250772012-04-23T12:26:00.000-04:002012-04-23T12:26:10.739-04:00April 23 - All In Good Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3sAo6LXXfM/T5V_ySSlwGI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/WnpaN7iB53I/s1600/1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3sAo6LXXfM/T5V_ySSlwGI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/WnpaN7iB53I/s320/1023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Red, green, yellow, blue!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; As I work on today's post, </span>Elli’s preschool class is being introduced to a parachute for the first time at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>For most this is their first experience with one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Elli’s teacher gives clear direction to sit around the parachute with their hands in their laps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“What do you observe about the parachute?” she asks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It’s big!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It’s like a ball!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It has lots of colors!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It looks like a beach ball!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let’s warm up our fingers,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; she says. </span>Then they sing a song.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Everyone find a handle…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We’re going to be safe, let’s not go under it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let’s sing, <em>Where is thumbkin</em>!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The teacher's voice gets hushed –“We’re going to do what’s called the wave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Move your hand up and down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Freeze."&nbsp; They practice without holding the chute's handles.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Do you think we’re ready to do it now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A chorus of yeses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lots of rustling,<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let’s have a sleeping wave.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“A medium wave!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“A fast wave. “<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Giggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Oh it’s getting sleepy again!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We’re going to do the parachute to the music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When we hear the music stop, we’re going to make it stop.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There is a sound of much movement with periodic silence when the music says freeze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Did you have fun?” Elli teacher asks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Yeah!” the little voices cry out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>“More!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let’s walk it on it. Ok, let’s go back to the classroom.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then they were gone almost as quickly as they came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Today was an introduction to parachute play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It helped to establish the boundaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It has been my experience that kids almost always love the parachute and look forward to its appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>However in their eagerness to play with a parachute it’s easy to overlook safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli’s teacher knew her group of 3 &amp; 4 year olds well and helped them to learn the rules of the parachute so everyone could have fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As an adult bystander, sitting in the next room&nbsp;working on&nbsp;homework, it would be easy for me to be bummed out over this experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I adored the parachute as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Why didn’t they try a mushroom, or cat and mouse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As parents we want our children to immediately experience all of the fun and joy in something that we once did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sometimes we even forget that we were often introduced to some of our first play experiences slowly and methodically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We want to rush in and give our kids everything – even if they’re not developmentally ready yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I know that I’ve been guilty of this at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We forget that our children need to explore things at their own pace, albeit sometimes with guidance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We expect perfection or completion when it’s often about experience for our kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Today, Elli’s class had a wonderful experience of the colors, feel, and sounds of the parachute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Everyone was safe and learned what was expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Was it true play?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Probably not under many definitions, but it set the groundwork for future play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I mentioned that I adored parachutes as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Later as a young Recreation Director, I actually came to dislike them for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While the kids loved them,&nbsp;parachutes were often a logistical nightmare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>How would you keep little Sarah from dodging underneath or getting trampled?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Could I get the kids to stop tugging long enough to explain the next game?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>How do you choose the next players while keeping everyone else happy doing the wave?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When does the fun turn into disaster?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; P</span>arachutes really stressed me out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Because I wanted to jump right in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>My memories of being a child often set up some unsafe situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>After my first few times out with the parachute on my own, I really learned to be much more purposeful in my introduction and safety guidelines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The kids ended up having a much better time when clear guidelines where shared from the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>These guidelines also allowed me to relax and enjoy my time with the kids and the parachute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As a parent, we now own two chutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They really are wonderful when you can balance safety with fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-50445859931769419542012-04-22T20:35:00.001-04:002012-05-01T13:25:52.979-04:00April 22 - A Good Read<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3M5IezIOiU/T5SgfyJjbfI/AAAAAAAAAQw/8JT5GxtZbdY/s1600/Play+Pictures+1+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3M5IezIOiU/T5SgfyJjbfI/AAAAAAAAAQw/8JT5GxtZbdY/s320/Play+Pictures+1+004.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate drew this picture for J.J the owner of Ebenezers.<br />One of our favorite places in town!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I made the mistake the other night of peaking inside the mystery novel that was sitting on Jeff’s night stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Hmmm…. I love mysteries, and I here I sit, typing. It’s calling my name on the arm of the couch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Who killed the redheaded stranger?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Could it have possibly had something to do with the missing piece of pie?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I guess I’ll have to wait to find out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>This is not a great time in the semester for me to be starting any non-classwork reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>In our house we all love reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Books capture our imaginations and allow our minds to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate has been devouring books as an early reader and in reality is probably a better reader as a kindergartener than I was as a third grader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Jeff was an early reader too and his parents were warned by his second grade teacher that perhaps they should help him choose his reading materials as not all articles in the Reader’s Digest were appropriate for young children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli shows strong signs of reading as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It excites me that Nate and Elli are doing so well in the reading department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I stayed back after my first year of third grade specifically because of my low reading abilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While I struggled with reading, it was not for lack of having parents who are avid readers or a neglect of reading to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They read to me a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Between those two years of third grade my parents had me work with a&nbsp;local tutor and I entered my second year of third grade as an avid reader not afraid to tackle anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>My favorite reads as a child primarily were mysteries; the <em>Happy Holisters, Hardy Boys, Trixie Beldon, Mandy, </em>and <em>Nancy Drew</em> regularly captivated my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’d then incorporate these stories into my own fantasy play solving mysteries and running from bad guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was recently doing some reading as part of my classwork related to children’s acquisition of reading skills (Hirsh-Pasek &amp; Golinkoff, 2003).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Parents can really give their children a leg up by making reading an everyday event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Regular reading helped children learn to read far above anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Children of parents who read to them regularly were much stronger readers than those who didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Why is reading so important?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The authors suggested that reading increases a child’s vocabulary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Children with larger vocabularies find it easier to learn to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The skill of storytelling piggybacked on top of regular reading promotes early literacy even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Storytelling allows the listener to understand something without the contextual cues that we have in normal conversations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When you think about this, books often include details that are not in a child’s everyday experiences, being able to decode these are vital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Reading is a lifelong passion, which presents new possibilities for our minds to play with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’m pretty excited that we get to be a part of our children’s reading journeys in such a concrete way!</span></div><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hirsh-Pasek, K., Golinkoff, R.M., &amp; Eyer, D. (2003) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Einstein never used flash cards</i>. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Inc. </span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-69576158409733757022012-04-21T20:58:00.000-04:002012-04-27T22:24:48.325-04:00April 21 - The Director<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>“Mama, you’re the baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Baby’s say, ‘Ga, ga, goo, chew.’ You need to learn to talk, baby, you don’t talk very well.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; - Elli this evening</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Play allows the child to be the director.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Recently I’ve noticed Nate and Elli creating a running narrative to accompany their play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This narrative seems to serve two purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It keeps the story going and it serves to let their playmate know what they should be doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There’s often a switching easily between giving directions and narration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Sometimes this narrative mimics real life and others it seems to simply come out of their imaginations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Either way it is very real to them at that moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is not uncommon to watch an internal monologue turn external for a while, and then slip back in for a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Any object or person can become the main character in a child’s narrative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Tonight, I attended a bridal shower where two young girls transformed the favors, mirrors, into living characters who acted out their stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>I am still in the process of reading David Elkind’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Power of Play</i> and read today how he feels that kids have too many toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He states that too many toys can distract kids rather than helping them to focus and use the toys to create story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If the girls at the shower had been in a room full of toys would they have had such rich story lines or would they have just been entertained bouncing from toy to toy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Meaningful play takes time to develop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The narrative is worked and reworked until the child develops it to a place where she is happy with the outcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This experimentation builds a richness and depth to our play and lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Legos are universally one of my personal favorite toys. I'm excited that Nate and Elli have now entered a stage where they play with them allowing this ongoing creativity. They build and set up scenes and story. Last week they created a <em><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">Sweet Genius</span></em> kitchen, yesterday it was boats; today it was creating racecars on the track. Legos leave room for the child or adult to be in charge of the play.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BNaLlomsgnQ/T5NXTVQpDJI/AAAAAAAAAQo/mfE_oNmbXEo/s1600/Play+Pictures+1+156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BNaLlomsgnQ/T5NXTVQpDJI/AAAAAAAAAQo/mfE_oNmbXEo/s320/Play+Pictures+1+156.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate's farmer is now a police officer.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elkind, D. (2007). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The power of play</i>. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press.</span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-21872315592918171232012-04-20T21:07:00.000-04:002012-04-27T22:24:21.234-04:00April 20 - When Play Comes to the Rescue<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Today the kids played quite a bit, even though I didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They spent the morning playing with friends at church and then we came home for rest time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Jeff surprised us with coming home early for his birthday and we ventured out on an expedition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sometimes our adventures go smoothly, sometimes not so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While today was not necessarily bad, it didn’t go quite how we pictured it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Nate and Elli ended up being more tired than anticipated and therefore moved very slowly and were whiny and competitive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>On our way back Nate’s foot fell asleep and he was complaining about it being prickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli chimed in that hers was prickly too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I could feel my inner lion rising up; when Jeff said his feet were prickly too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This totally silly comment tamed the lion and helped to set things right again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>David Elkind has a chapter in his book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Power of Play</i> about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lighthearted parenting</i> and the use of humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I can totally relate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Jeff’s over the top comment made Elli’s competitiveness and Nate’s whininess more bearable, even comical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3GaZzxZqGk/T5IEsGPob3I/AAAAAAAAAQg/ntd_CGABJnQ/s1600/Mr+Bear+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3GaZzxZqGk/T5IEsGPob3I/AAAAAAAAAQg/ntd_CGABJnQ/s320/Mr+Bear+005.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Bear - the unsuspecting <br />superhero of our fabric store<br />visit.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>When we think about it play can often come to the rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We had an example yesterday of going to the fabric store – not a task that I typically enjoy with two kids in tow unless we’re working on a specific project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Yesterday I had to make up for a past oversight when getting some fabric for a dress I’m making Elli.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We had one specific item – theoretically an in, out, and done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>However, this is the fabric store and anything can happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>On the way out of the car, Nate asked if he could bring his dog Tucker which triggered Elli to ask if she could bring Mr. Bear in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Oftentimes this is a no, but in this case I was thinking if their hands were full then perhaps there would be less touching. We quickly found our fabric and then stood in line for 15 minutes waiting for it to be cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The kids, having their stuffies, proceeded to play nicely while we waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Play really did save the day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">A couple of years ago I discovered play to be an incredibly helpful tool in the doctor's office.&nbsp; I often bring a box of crayons for our wait.&nbsp; The paper on the doctor's table makes a great canvas for some impromptu art that keeps little hands busy and helps little minds be less anxious.</span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another great read on play:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elkind, D. (2007). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The power of play</i>.&nbsp; Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press.</span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-54489489198224441392012-04-19T21:45:00.000-04:002012-04-19T21:45:17.663-04:00April 19 - Dirt Under Our Nails<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5jcTt8mhNGk/T5C-Dlzz3fI/AAAAAAAAAQY/wzWUIGW2aGI/s1600/Mont+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5jcTt8mhNGk/T5C-Dlzz3fI/AAAAAAAAAQY/wzWUIGW2aGI/s320/Mont+060.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very cool plant pot from Grammy.<br />Nate is very glad that it is no longer<br />holding newspapers.&nbsp; </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dirt under our fingernails, seeds in the pot, weeds plucked out of the garden, and dumped… well, in the “dump,” equals a couple of happy children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Grampa gave us seeds and Grammy sent home the beloved plant pot today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>So the stage was set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>After a long car ride back from New Hampshire the kids were ready to be out In the sun getting their hands dirty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There is something truly magical about planting seeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You take this hard little object, drop it in some dirt, water it, make sure it has space once in awhile and then the miracle of growth takes place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This round of planting did not take very long and the kids were eager to continue their gardening adventures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Each took ownership of one of the tulips* that was planted last fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They pulled the weeds growing around them and brought them up to their dump in Nate’s dumptruck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The tulips must have their space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then the watering commenced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There are a lot of things that Elli and Nate play, but watering always increases their excitement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Somehow carrying little watering cans from the bathroom sink outside gives them great joy and trails of water from the sink out the door… <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a time when our generation of kids has been characterized as having <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a nature deficit</i>, I am so thrilled to see my children getting excited to be outdoors interacting with the natural environment around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While conceptually I understand that there are more things competing for our children’s time, I struggle with this notion of <em>nature deficit</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Maybe it’s where we live, but I see opportunities for children to connect with nature as being easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Kids are eager to engage with the natural world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>With very little adult effort kids experience great joy over natural things. Perhaps the&nbsp;reason for <em>nature deficit</em>&nbsp;is that, in many cases, connection with nature does require some effort from parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Effort takes energy and in a society that is often overextended, there’s not always much left for play in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">* My friend John shared his daughter’s favorite joke a couple of years ago - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>“What kind of flower grows between your nose and chin?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>“Tulips!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-21164662799500249552012-04-18T21:45:00.000-04:002012-04-18T21:45:38.797-04:00April 18 - Play Memories&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Today Nate, Elli, and I went to the <a href="http://www.montshire.org/">Montshire Museum of Science</a> with friends.&nbsp; We regularly visit this museum thanks to the gift of an annual membership from Mom and Dad, aka Grammy &amp; Grampa.&nbsp; The Montshire is one of my favorite places to go with the kids.&nbsp; It's always changing and capturing our imaginations.&nbsp; One day it may be playing with air tubes and foam balls, another its dropping helicopters on the unsuspecting visitors below, or discovering and playing with the fog in the special "hidden" fog room.&nbsp; Whatever the&nbsp;highlight is that day there is almost always a significant stop by the colony of leaf cutter ants.&nbsp; Nate and Elli have spent amazing amounts of time watching and feeding these little creatures.&nbsp; The colony is relatively large and somewhere hidden in there is the queen, who is reported to be about the size of my pinkie.&nbsp; We are all in awe of these little ants that cut such massive pieces of leaves&nbsp;and stagger back to the fungus garden with them.&nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One of the reasons that the Montshire is so special to me is that I kind of grew up with it.&nbsp; The experiences it gave me really helped to foster my joy of learning and playing.&nbsp; When I was a young child I have memories of visiting it often at it's Lyme, NH location.&nbsp; I remember, it being fairly small with maybe four or five rooms.&nbsp; Even then it captured me and I loved to visit.&nbsp; I remember Stanley the snake (Stanley turned out to be a girl), the huge dinosaur fossil, dissecting owl&nbsp;pellets, and even a special Halloween visit where we got to touch&nbsp;oozy, gross things.&nbsp; As I got older the Montshire took some special shows on the road.&nbsp; I learned that&nbsp;you&nbsp;could shatter a rose and a raquet ball, make snowshoes out of some black pipe, awesome ice cream in a recycled can, and even learned how to make a boomerang using two rulers.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a young teenager we moved&nbsp;out of the area, but then came back. The Montshire made a move too to its current location in Norwich, VT.&nbsp; I remember the awesome experience of taking my Grandmother there when&nbsp;I was in my early twenties.&nbsp; I remember her wonder at it all, and enjoyment in seeing the "clockworks" upstairs.&nbsp;These reminded her of my grandfather who had had a love for building clocks.&nbsp; I still cannot pass through the upstairs section&nbsp;without thinking of her, and him.&nbsp; Now I take my children there and the joy of discovery continues.&nbsp; It's pretty amazing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I am so glad to have this special place of play, memories, and learning.&nbsp; What's yours?Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-80089160081629991742012-04-17T20:45:00.000-04:002012-04-17T20:45:02.633-04:00April 17 - Kissing Hand Day<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to Nate April 17 is now officially Kissing Hand Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When I asked him what we do on Kissing Hand Day he said we could have candy and kiss each other’s hands as the raccoons do in the Audrey Penn's&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1933718102/ref=rdr_ext_tmb">book</a> to show our love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The basic story line goes something like this: little raccoon is nervous about going off to school and his mama gives him a kiss in the center of palm and then closes his hand around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She explains that anytime he is missing her or is anxious he can hold the hand up to his cheek and know that she loves him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>So basically Nate wants a day set aside to know that he is loved and to receive candy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Isn’t this what every kid wants?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>This idea came after a lot of car and errand time as well as a trip to the dentist and a candy shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Yes, I know those last two things probably shouldn’t go together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Bravery and no cavities should warrant some sort of reward!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate had been sitting in the back seat quietly and then shared this idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Although I’m not sure exactly what brought him to the point of creating a new holiday, I know that he must have been playing with different ideas to pass the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This one sounds pretty good!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Tomorrow they’ll see a lot more car time and have another day of adventures at the Montshire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’ll be away from a computer, so tomorrow’s update will come Thursday evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116462255771313339.post-90279933726748905642012-04-16T21:54:00.000-04:002012-04-16T21:54:38.285-04:00April 16 - A Joy Rediscovered!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">Today was a pretty solid play day; really what a school vacation should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate and Elli played superheroes outside while I did a few chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli recruited me into the superhero crew giving me superpowers beyond my superhuman ability to do dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>According to Elli my real superpower is to give super strength hugs to superheroes which gives them renewed strength when they’re scared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Pretty cool superpower!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’ll take&nbsp;it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">We certainly took advantage of this super gorgeous day and went to Lake Elmore to play in the sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The kids even went in up to their waists for a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We built two lakes with a connecting river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli was a little bummed that I was unable to construct a working waterfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate took over ownership of the town shortly after some friends arrived and directed them in what to do to build “his” town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli disconnected from the building project and joined Rachel to play school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They had so much fun that Elli announced on the way home that she was so busy playing with Rachel that she didn’t even miss Nate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I thought it interesting that Elli would notice this and even comment on it later.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPUwtLCoEug/T4zJ28qyWmI/AAAAAAAAAQI/VvtWSgPWCsI/s1600/Elmore+%2526+art+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPUwtLCoEug/T4zJ28qyWmI/AAAAAAAAAQI/VvtWSgPWCsI/s320/Elmore+%2526+art+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">After a stop home we set out again to the local playground to meet up with one of Nate’s friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While they normally like to play boot camp both boys found it hot, and instead played in an&nbsp;area that is apparently&nbsp;forbidden during regular recess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is forbidden because it is out of sight from the teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Today it was a shady rest spot on a playground without much shade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Playgrounds should definitely be designed to provide shade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>At the playground Elli often felt left out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While I don’t think the boys necessarily told her that she couldn’t play, she wasn’t formally included in their play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The fact that Elli was not familiar with their regular play stories compounded her feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>However, I was pleased to see that she used her voice and let the boys know in no uncertain terms that she was feeling left out and wanted to play too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They listened and let her play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This brings up an interesting point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When Elli came to me and started to tell me that they weren’t playing with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I gave her a voice instead of solving her problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Like at ECHO, I encouraged her to find her words and tell them directly what she needed from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; As&nbsp;a result, she did and the boys validated her by including her. </span>As adults we too often step into children’s play and solve things inadvertently taking away opportunities to learn assertiveness and independence.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>On our way home Nate saw his art teacher who was out for a walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He excitedly waved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Apparently seeing her got his creative wheels turning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When we got home he immediately asked Jeff if he wanted to go upstairs to the art studio with him (The art studio is a tiny room connected to our apartment that holds my sewing things as well as a variety of other creative materials.).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Today it was wood sculptures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then Nate made us each a medallion out of some clay chips I had from a project that didn’t come together as I had envisioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Later I was putting winter things away and stumbled upon two sketch pads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate and Elli were both delighted to have them and immediately started intently drawing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As bedtime came and went they were still working purposefully on their drawings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Elli was chattering away telling me about how she feels happy when she’s drawing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate asked us to please be quiet so he could concentrate and finish his piece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I can’t say how delighted I am that they rediscovered art on their own tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nate has seriously been playing with art for a couple of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When school started last fall he left it behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He was often too tired by the time he got home to be very creative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This bummed me out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We constantly had art materials available, but overall he seemed uninterested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We did our best not to push him which was hard because he really got a lot of joy out of creating his art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Tonight that joy was back!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHxeWvnOAFM/T4zKGoY9ymI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/3NhxZQPNC3k/s1600/Elmore+%2526+art+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHxeWvnOAFM/T4zKGoY9ymI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/3NhxZQPNC3k/s320/Elmore+%2526+art+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of Nate's picture of a lake and mountains.<br />His technique has changed. He drew the outline of the lake first<br />it in.&nbsp; Same with the mountains.</td></tr></tbody></table>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13165855489671335731noreply@blogger.com0